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Marrakech
#117 of 124
Africa

Marrakech

Morocco

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Marrakech compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Marrakech is 74% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Marrakech compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$16,582
-$256K (-94%) vs San Francisco
Based on 61 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$11,276
-$161K (-93%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 32%

Community Insights

New

Marrakech offers a high-contrast lifestyle for software engineers: a blend of chaotic, ancient culture in the Medina and modern, comfortable living in neighborhoods like Gueliz. It is an exceptionally affordable base with a strategic time zone for European remote work. While the local job market offers low compensation, the city is a haven for digital nomads and remote workers earning foreign currencies. However, potential residents must be prepared for poor air quality, intense summer heat, and a culture of street hustling that can be draining. It works best as a hybrid base—perfect for wintering or shorter stints rather than a permanent home for everyone.

Resident Sentiment

Expats and digital nomads generally view Marrakech as a "hidden gem" for lifestyle arbitrage, praising the ability to live luxuriously on a modest budget. Many recommend living in Gueliz or Hivernage to avoid the "sensory overload" of the tourist centers. However, there is a common sentiment that the city is "intense," with some residents eventually leaving due to the weariness of daily bargaining and the summer heat. Long-term satisfaction often depends on integration—finding a reliable community and learning to navigate the local cultural norms without stress.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 6%

#7

of 124 cities

22/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#45

of 124 cities

49/100 weather score

Current value

Safety Index

Middle of the pack

#59

of 124 cities

56/100

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Marrakech compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$1,337 / m²
87% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Marrakech to maintain the same standard of living.

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Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
75% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Marrakech

Oracle logo
Oracle
SQLI logo
SQLI
Capgemini logo
Capgemini

The Good

  • Extremely low cost of living allows for a high quality of life on a Western salary (ranked #7 most affordable globally).
  • Fiber optic internet is widely available in modern neighborhoods like Gueliz, with speeds (100Mbps+) sufficient for remote work; Starlink is also reported as a reliable backup.
  • Time zone alignment with Europe (GMT+1) makes it ideal for remote workers collaborating with UK/EU teams.
  • Modern infrastructure in districts like Gueliz and Hivernage offers a European-style lifestyle with chic cafes, coworking spaces, and shopping malls.
  • Winter weather is mild and sunny (average 20.2°C), providing a great escape from colder Northern climates.
  • Rich cultural experience with easy access to the Atlas Mountains and coast for weekend adventures.
  • Growing tech community with active groups like GDG Marrakech and PHP User Groups for networking.

The Bad

  • Local tech salaries are very low compared to Western standards ($16.5k median), making remote work for foreign companies essential.
  • Air pollution is a significant issue (ranked #118 for cleanliness), which can be bothersome for sensitive individuals.
  • Harassment and hustle culture in the Medina (Old City) can be exhausting, with frequent catcalling affecting women and aggressive sales tactics targeting foreigners.
  • Bureaucracy can be slow and opaque, especially when dealing with residency permits or banking without a local job contract.
  • Summer heat is intense (highs around 37°C+), often requiring reliable air conditioning and limiting outdoor activities during the day.
  • Sensory overload from noise and crowds in central areas can make deep work difficult if housing is not carefully chosen.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The adventurous remote worker who earns a Western salary and wants to maximize savings while enjoying a sunny, culturally rich environment. It is ideal for digital nomads targeting European time zones who appreciate a mix of luxury (in Gueliz/Hivernage) and chaos (in the Medina). Engineers looking for bootstrapping locations for their startups will find the low burn rate attractive.

Skip it if...

Engineers seeking high-paying local employment or a structured, quiet, and orderly environment like Zurich or Tokyo. It is likely unsuitable for solo female travelers who are highly sensitive to street harassment or those with respiratory issues due to the pollution levels. People who need fast-paced, efficient bureaucracy or absolute predictability in their daily logistics will struggle here.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather4.9/10-44% vs San Francisco
Safety56+42%
Pollution84+71%
Events0-100%
4.9/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
27°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
Average Low
14°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
Sunshine Hours
3,131h/yr+70h/yr
Hottest Month High
37°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
Coldest Month Low
7°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
Rainy Days
30/yr-19/yr(-39%)

Community & Quality

Marrakech community pulse

Marrakech has 0 Luma events listed.

100% fewer events than San Francisco.

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#68

of 124 cities

32%

Current value (lower is better)

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#77

of 124 cities

≈9.5 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Community Events

Bottom 23%

#97

of 124 cities

0 events on luma

Current value

Net Income

Bottom 7%

#117

of 124 cities

$11,276/yr

Current value

Purchasing Power

Bottom 7%

#117

of 124 cities

Pollution Score

Bottom 6%

#118

of 124 cities

84.1/100

Current value (lower is better)

SWE Affordability
9.5 years
4.8 years longer than San Francisco
Muggy Days
4/yr+3/yr(+1650%)
Cloud Cover
27%(vs 34% in San Francisco)